Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-11-16
ADoLPH FISCHER
LOUIS LINGG's LETTER.

LOUIS LINGGS LETTER.
To Mr.. R. J. Oglesby, Governor Of Illinois:
loving portion Of the American people are en-.
deavoring to prevail upon you to interpose your
prerogatiye in my case. feel impelIed to de-
clare with my friend and comrade Parsons, that
I demand either liberty or death. II you are
really O servant Of the people according to the
constitution Of the country, then you will, by
virtue OF your office, Internationally release me-
Referring to the general and inalienable rights
of men, have called upon the disinherited and
oppressed masses to oppose the force of their op-
pressors-exercised by armed enforcement Of in
famous laws. enacted In the interest of capital
with force, in order to attain dignifed and
manly existence by securing the full returns Of
their labor. Ths-and only this-is the crime
which was proven against me, Notwithstanding
part of the state. And this crime is guaranteed
not only as a right, but as duty, by the Ameri-
can constitution, the representative Of which you
are supposed to be in. in the 1ss state Of Illinois
constitution, like the great majority of office
holders, a mere tool Of the mSnopolists or a
specific political clique, you: will not eneroach
tortioners, because mere mitigation Of the yer.
dict would be cowardice aud q proof that the
ruling classes which you represent are them.
selves abashed at the monstrosity Of my con-
demnation, and, consequently, Of their own vo-
lation Of the most sacred rights Of the people.
Your decision in that event will not only Judge
me, but also yourself and those whom you repre-.
sent. Judge, then. LOUIS LINGO.
P.s.-In order to be sure that this letter will
come to your official notice, will send you the
original manuscript as registered letter.
GEORGE ENGEL's LETTER.
Dear Sir-I, George Engel, citizen of tho United
States and Of Chicago, and condemned to death,
learn that thousands of citizens petition you, as
the highest executive officer Of the state Of llli-
nois, to commute my sentence Of death to i'm.
prisonment. protest emphatically against this
on the following grounds:
am not aware of having violated any laws Of
this country. In my firm belief in the constitu-
queathed to this people, and which remains un-
altered, have exercised the right Of free speech,
free press, free thought and free assemblage, as
guaranteed by the constitution, and have criti.
cised the existing condition Of society and sue.
cored my fellow citizens with my advice which
regard as the right Of every honest citizen. The
experience which have had in this country, dur.
ing the fifteen years that have lived here, con.
corning the ballot and the administration Of our
public functionaries who have become totally cor
rupt, have eradioated my belief in the existence of
equal rights Of poor and ch and the action Of the
public officers, police and militia have produced
the firm belief In me that these conditions cannot
last long. In accordance with this experience:
have taught and advised. This I have done in
good faith Of the rights which are guaranteed by
the constitution, and, not being conscious of my
guilt the ''powers that be" may murder me- but
they cannot legally punish me. protest against
a Communication Of my sentence, and demand
mercy. Respectfully, GEORGE ENGEL.
SPIES DEFENSE.
The defense Of August Spies may be found
in many sentences Of his letters to Miss Van
Zandt and others, and in his biography and
his notable address to the court before SEN
tence was pronounced In the latter he said,
among other things:
"Your honor, speak as the representative o.
one class to the representative of another. will
begin with the words uttered by the Venetian